This page lists alumni of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (iSchool) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, editors of the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and Center affiliates who served on Newbery Medal Selection Committees. Unless otherwise noted, the alumni listed received their master’s or doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The italicized book titles represent the Newbery Medal winner in the specified year. An asterisk denotes service as the chair of the Newbery Selection Committee in the specified year.
Established in 1922, the Newbery Medal is awarded by the American Library Association to honor the “most distinguished American children’s book published the previous year.”1 To learn more about the Newbery Medal and past recipients, visit this page by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) or the ALSC Book & Media Awards Shelf.
Rebecca King (MS/LIS, 2012) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2024
Amber Creger – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2024
Yesica Hurd (MS/LIS, 2010) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2023 (Freewater)
Thaddeus Andracki (MS/LIS, 2014) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2022* (The Last Cuentista) and 2018 (Hello Universe!)
Esther Berland (MS/LIS, 2013) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2015 (The Crossover)
Kathleen Breckenridge (MS/LIS, 1962) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1980 (A Gathering of Day: A New England Girl’s Journal, 1830-1832) and 1972 (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH)
Julie A. Corsaro (MA, University of Chicago, 1985) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1990 (Number the Stars)
Mary Dubbs (MS/LIS, 2013) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2019 (Merci Suárez Changes Gears)
Mary K. Eakin (MA, University of Chicago, 1954; Bulletin Editor, 1949-1958) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1965 (Shadow of a Bull), 1959 (The Witch of Blackbird Pond), 1958 (Rifles for Watie), and 1957 (Miracles on Maple Hill)
Yolanda Federici (Roosevelt University; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1970-1985) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1960 (Onion John)
Sara I. Fenwick (MA, University of Chicago, 1951; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1970-1975) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1973 (Julie of the Wolves), 1972 (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH), 1971* (Summer of the Swans), 1964 (It’s Like This, Cat), and 1959 (The Witch of Blackbird Pond)
Diane Foote (MS/LIS, 2006) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2010 (When You Reach Me)
Ellin Greene (PhD, Rutgers University, 1979; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1980-1984) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1976 (The Grey King)
Carla Hayden (PhD, University of Chicago, 1987; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1986-1987) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1990 (Number the Stars)
Christine Jenkins (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995; CCB Director, 2007-2010) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2001 (A Year Down Yonder)
Wilbur (W.) Duane Johnson (MS/LIS, 1959) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1980 (A Gathering of Day: A New England Girl’s Journal, 1830-1832)
Ann Kalkhoff (MS/LIS, 1967) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1974 (Julie of the Wolves)
Susan D. Lempke (MLS, Indiana University; Bulletin Reviewer, 1994-1996) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2021 (When You Trap A Tiger)
Isabel McCaul (MA, University of Chicago, 1964; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1970-1989) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1974 (The Slave Dancer), 1973 (Julie of the Wolves), 1972 (Mrs. Frisby and the Wolves of NIMH), and 1968 (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler)
Anne McConnell (CAS, 1978) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1978 (Bridge to Terabithia)
Alice Brooks McGuire (PhD, University of Chicago, 1958; Service Bulletin Editor, 1947-1949) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1972 (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH), 1961 (Island of the Blue Dolphins), and 1953 (Secret of the Andes)
Debra Ann McLeod (MS/LIS, 2005) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2014 (Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures) and 1984 (Dear Mr. Henshaw)
Emily Mroczek (MS/LIS, 2014) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2019 (Merci Suárez Changes Gears)
Janice Del Negro (PhD, 2007; Bulletin Editor, 1996-2001) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2018 (Hello Universe!) and 1992 (Shiloh)
Selma K. Richardson (PhD, University of Michigan, 1969; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1992-1996) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1990 (Number the Stars)
Hazel Rochman (MAT, University of Chicago, 1974; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1978-1989) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1982 (A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for the Innocent and Experienced Travelers)
Charlemae Rollins (University of Chicago, 1933; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1970-1977) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1958 (Rifles for Watie), 1957 (Miracles on Maple Hill), 1956* (Carry On, Mr. Bowditch), 1954 (…And Now Miguel), 1953 (Secret of the Andes), and 1949 (King of the Wind)
Natalie Hoyle Ross (MS/LIS, 2003; Bulletin Reviewer) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2006 (Criss Cross)
Soraya Silverman-Montano (MS/LIS, 2014) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2020 (New Kid)
Deborah Stevenson (PhD, University of Chicago, 1999; Bulletin Editor, 2001-2021) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2010 (When You Reach Me)
Peggy Sullivan (PhD, University of Chicago, 1972; Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1974-1977) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1978 (Bridge to Terabithia)
Zena (Bailey) Sutherland (MA, University of Chicago, 1968; Bulletin Editor, 1958-1985) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1998 (Out of the Dust), 1976* (The Grey King), 1969 (The High King), 1963 (A Wrinkle in Time), 1961 (Island of the Blue Dolphins), and 1960 (Onion John)
Roger Sutton (MLS, University of Chicago, 1982; Bulletin Editor, 1994-1996) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 1999 (Holes)
Janet Thompson (MS/LIS, 2005) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2015 (The Crossover)
Lucinda Whitehurst (MS/LIS, 1987) – Newbery Selection Committee Member 2015 (The Crossover)